We are an elementary school in Texas in the fifth year of our journey to implement The Schoolwide Enrichment Model on our campus. We are passionate about preparing our learners for success as global citizens in today's changing world.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Every year when the kids walk through the front door on that first day of school, I am once again reminded of the awesome responsibility we have as educators as we touch the lives of our learners every single day.

As a young educator I used to pray, "Lord, let me make a difference today. Let the words I say and the actions I take have a lasting impact on the lives of my students."

More recently I realized that my prayer had been answered. In fact, my prayer is answered every day for every teacher in every classroom around the nation...even around the world. For, whether we like it or not, impacting the lives of children is what we do. It's who we are. Every move we make...every decision...every lesson...every kind word...or not so kind word...has an impact on the children in our care. Whoa!

Okay, so making an impact on the lives of children is not a choice. It's a given. It's a natural result of the life we have chosen to live. But what kind of impact will we make? Now that is choice!

And so, every day these children walk into our classrooms.

They come with hopes, dreams, joys, fears, strengths, and deficits. And we have a choice.

They come with behaviors, attitudes, quirks, and misconceptions. And we have a choice.

They come with passions, interests, talents, and dreams. And we have a choice.